1939 Map of Donaldsonville

About this map

The Mississippi River winds through the heart of the River Parishes in this late 1930s survey, documenting a landscape where the plantation economy and emerging industrialization coexist. The map details numerous named tracts such as Riverton Plantation and Conway Plantation, alongside the industrial presence of the Salsburg Refinery and the development of the Darrow Oil Field. Settlement patterns follow the river and the older bayous, including Bayou Manchac and Bayou Francois, while the newer Airline Highway and railroads like the Illinois Central signal a shift toward modern transportation. For genealogists, the map is remarkably specific, locating social and religious anchors such as St Landry Ch & Cem, Little Zion Sch Ch & Cem, and several rural schools. The intricate network of drainage canals and levees illustrates the ongoing engineering efforts managed by the Mississippi River Commission during this era.